ISLAMABAD: In a major diplomatic reshuffle, Pakistan has appointed new ambassadors and high commissioners to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Germany, Afghanistan, the United Nations (Geneva), Thailand, Norway, Tanzania and Uganda, along with eight consuls-general.
Highly placed diplomatic sources told ‘The News’ on Friday evening that the Chief of Protocol, Capt (retd) Usman Tipu, has been designated as high commissioner to the United Kingdom. He will replace Dr Faisal, who is set to return to headquarters in August.
Dr. Faisal, formerly Pakistan’s envoy to Germany and a former spokesperson for the Foreign Office, is among the likely candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant position of foreign secretary when incumbent Amna Baloch retires in September.
Ambassador Ahmad Farooq, currently posted in Saudi Arabia, is being replaced by Bilal Ahmad, Pakistan’s current Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva. Ahmad Farooq will report back to headquarters in Islamabad.
Ambassador Mudasar Tipu, currently serving in Iran, has been designated for Uzbekistan, a post from which Ahmad Farooq is returning. Additional Secretary Dr Syed Asad Ali Gilani will replace Obaid ur Rehman Nizamani as Ambassador to Afghanistan; Nizamani will in turn become Ambassador to Sweden, replacing Bilal Hayee who is returning home.
Salman Foreign Office DG at the PM House, will be appointed Ambassador to Germany, succeeding Syeda Saqlain, who is returning to headquarters.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand Rukhsana Afzal will be replaced by Saadia Afzal Qazi, currently Ambassador to Norway.
Additional Secretary for Disarmament and Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has been posted as Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, a location where he has previously served.
Aasim Ali Khan, currently Consul General in Los Angeles, has been appointed Ambassador to Norway. Siraj Ahmad Khan, High Commissioner to Tanzania, has been made Consul General for Los Angeles.
Asad Shehzad will serve as Ambassador to Uganda, replacing Muhammad Hassan Wazir. Muhammad Faisal Abro, Director General of the Africa Division, has been designated Consul General in Montreal, Canada, in place of Ishtiaq Ahmad Aaqil.
In total, 24 transfers and postings have been approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In another significant move, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Ambassador to Italy Ali Javed and Ambassador to Greece Aamir Aftab Qureshi have been granted extensions at their posts for an unspecified period, despite having completed their official terms, the sources added.
